Notes from Web PA SIG Held as a part of the HEA STEM (Computing) Learning Technologies 2014 at the University of Hull 26 March 2014
Attendees Shehzad Ahmed (University of Hull); Tareq Aljaber (University of Hull); Mike Brayshaw (University of Hull); Martin Buzza (University of Hull); Robert Costello (University of Hull); Adam Craik (University of Hull); Matthias Crauwels (Ghent University); Nuala Davis (Newcastle University); Di Dean (University of Hull); Karen Fraser (HEA); Bridget Freer (University of Hull); Neil Gordon (University of Hull); Deryn Graham (University of Greenwich); Katy Graley (University of Hull); Simon Grey (University of Hull); Jon Higham (University of Hull); Garry HURD (University of Hull); Emy Jalil (University of Hull); Geetha Karunanayake (University of Hull); Melanie King (Loughborough University); Margaret Korosec (Hymers College); John Lewak (University of Lincoln); Darren McKie (University of Hull); Matt Mould (Loughborough University); Trish Murray (University of Sheffield); Priscilla Otuo (University of Hull); Kevin Pimbblet (University of Hull); Katrin Thomson (University of Sheffield); Dan Towns (Loughborough University); Chris Turnock (University of Hull); Cath Waller (University of Hull); Jie Wu (University of Hull)
Welcome and Introductions General welcome and intro to WebPA – the attendees included WebPA users and those interested in Learning Technologies generally. The event was being held as part of the Learning Technologies event – and proceedings from that will be available in due course (http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/events/detail/2014/26_March_Computing_Hull )
An introduction to the new WebPA help support Melanie and colleagues (Matt and Dan) gave an overview of the new WebPA help documentation that is now available at http://www.webpaproject.com/
As well as improved layout and logical structure, this includes a number of new features. Of particular interest is the facility for site specific help. The new site will also include a list of registered institutions and contacts. Sites using WebPA are requested to determine a contact and to register through http://webpaproject.lboro.ac.uk/community/register-institution/
The new site also provides news based on Tweets (containing #WebPA) and the Jisc Mail list.
Code Repository Noted that there was some confusion over which version was the current one for WebPA. Version 2.0 can be downloaded from the sourceforge site, though there had been a few small fixes emailed out on the WebPA Jiscmail list, and it wasn’t always clear if these were already applied in the download version.
After some discussion it was felt that a move to GitHub would ease the development of the WebPA codebase. This is of particular interest now that there are foreign language versions, along with WebPA Version 2 (and the associated LTI connector). Note: since the SiG, WebPA has been stored in the GitHub repository, at https://github.com/WebPA
For info:
WebPA can be downloaded at GitHub: https://github.com/WebPA/Source/releases
And the LTI Connector is available for download at: http://projects.oscelot.org/gf/project/webpa-lti/
Developments of WebPA Suggested collaborative projects could be effective, and potential to apply for development funding. Call for expressions of interest through the WebPA mailing list for future functionality. Agreed there should be a mechanism to select/prioritise development – currently WebPA is quite a loose group, though the SiG meetings provide one opportunity to discuss priorities, and the Jisc mail list another.
Some ideas for extra functionality were:
greater feedback – perhaps a spider diagram and text indicating performance against assessment criteria. Initial interest from Loughborough, Hull and Ghent. The facility to scan through and return comments Interest in ensuring that development focussed on developing modules so that functionality can be more easily amended e.g. for Internationalisation i.e. foreign language support.
Next Meeting Potential to link with a future Learning Technologies workshop – one suggestion for the 2015 meeting is to have it in Ghent. Matthias agreed to investigate hosting that. In terms of the Learning Technologies event, potential topics could be around eLearning, eAdmin and the business of eLearning, with case studies. This event could include a WebPA element as the 2014 has, with especial interest in the support for multiple languages.
Action Matthias, Neil, Deryn and Karen
Note – subsequent to this meeting, there has been the offer of hosting a WebPA focussed event in Edinburgh at Queen Margaret University in late 2014. Further details of this will be sent out through the WebPA JISC email list ([email protected]). Please ensure you are a member of that list if you are interested in this, or contact NAG direct for details.
Neil Gordon; 14 May 2014 [email protected]